Signal generator



June 15, 1965 E. A. SALNERS SIGNAL GENERATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed July 15, 1960 FIG 4 'Edward A. Sal/vars BY 2 f June 15, 1965 A. SALNERS SIGNAL GENERATOR Original Filed July 15, 1960- .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Edward A. .Sa/hers BY June 15, 1965 E, A, ALNERS 3,189,000

SIGNAL GENERATOR Original Filed July 15. 1960 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 O i [0% c n )1! -85 J -$'/0 0/ 7 ll "-22 I30? [6 33 I j 54 Pl I: 7:: I80 68 m 02 l80a5o INVENTOR. Edward A. Salas/s United States Patent Continuation of application Ser. No. 43,234, July is, 1960.

This application Jan. 8, 1964, Ser. No. 340,581 9 Claims. (Cl. 116137) This invention relates to signal generator apparatus and more particularly to the striker mechanism for a mechanical signal generator having advantageous use in a transmitter of sonic signals. This application is a continuation of application Serial No. 43,234, filed July 15, 1960, now abandoned.

It has long been known to perform remote control functions by transmitting sound energy and then remotely receiving the energy to operate relay control circuits. For example, in the past there has been remote control of garage doors or the tuning of radio receivers in this manner. Remote control of television receivers has also commonly been accomplished with sound energy and this type of a control system has achieved some popularity for the channel selection, the on-oif and the volume control receiver adjustments which can all be carried out from the viewers position by means of such remote control apparatus.

However, mechanical sound generators previously known have been subject to objections from the standpoint of providing sufficient power output while still retaining desirable smooth and easy operation to have wide user appeal. In addition the prior art striker mechanisms for such generators or transmitters often require many critical specifications, some of which necessitate special assembly procedures thus tending to add to the manufacturing cost.

While high strength or amplitude of the energy burst is desirable from the viewpoint of extending the distance over which control is possible, a short duration or pulselike quality of the energy burst may be necessary so that the transmitter will not continue to radiate the signal to operate the remote control receiver when the receiver would otherwise be tending to stop the remote control function. In other words, rapid damping of the controlling signal once it is generated may be necessary to prevent overshooting of the remote control apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved compact signal generator device requiring relatively few non-critical parts to reduce the cost and expense of manufacture thereof.

Another object is to provide a manually operable signal generator which is spring actuated to furnish a strong, short sonic energy pulse and which has desirably long spring life.

A still further object is to provide a supersonic signal generator having rapidly effective damping of a vibratory radiator therein to limit the duration of the signal output.

'A still further object is to increase the smoothness and improve the feel of a manually operable, selfcocking trigger mechanism.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a striker mechanism having a movable actuator for cocking and releasing a spring biased pivotally and slidably mounted rocker which carries a striker, for improved striking action with reduced spring fatigue and smoother resetting of the mechanism upon pivoting and sliding action of the rocker-striker.

A further feature is the provision of a sonic signal generator with a rocker having a striker for a signal radiator and which rocker is pivotal about a first point by oper- 3,189,000 Patented June 15, 1965 ice ation and release of an actuator for cocking and striking the radiator and which rocker is further pivotal about a second point and slidable about the first pivot point upon return of the actuator for moving the striker into engagement with the radiator for damping of the radiator vibration,

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the signal generator incorporaing the invention as it may be used for remote control of a television receiver;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the signal generator with the housing therefor taken in section along the line 22 of FIG. 1 to show the striker mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the striker mechanism of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the line 5--5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the signal generator of FIG. 2 with the housing partly cut away and with the striker mechanism fully cocked but prior to release thereof;

FIG. 7 is a view like that of FIG. 6 but after the striker mechanism has been released;

FIG. 8 is a view like that of FIG. 6 but during the resetting of the striker mechanism and simultaneous damping of the sonic radiator;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of a modified form of the striker mechanism;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view along the line 1010 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a partial view similar to FIG. 10 but with the pushbutton depressed and the striker mechanism in operation;

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of a still further embodiment of the striker mechanism;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view along the line 1313 of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 but with the pushbutton operated.

In a particular form the invention comprises a sonic signal generator with an improved manually operable striking mechanism. A sonic radiator is mounted to be impinged by a striker which is carried by a pivotally and slidably mounted lever or rocker. A spring biased actuating lever is operable to pivot the rocker against an actuator spring, and upon sufiicient travel of the actuating lever it becomes disengaged from the rocker to permit the actuator spring to urge the striker into sharp engagement with the radiator. A reverse bias spring is used to limit the striker to one blow and to retain the striker spaced from the radiator after the blow is struck. The actuator spring may be an end mounted flat spring carrying a small stud engageable with the rocker or an axle mounted coil spring engageable with the rocker. Upon return movement of the actuating lever, as it is released, the actuating lever re-engages the rocker which then slides in its mounting to pivot upon its actuator spring and move the striker into engagement with the radiator for damping its vibration and stopping the signal output. Provision may also be made for maintaining the striker in engagement with the radiator continuously upon release of the pushbutton so complete damping is automatic by actuating lever return travel.

In FIG. 1 there is shown the hand held signal generator 10 which is operative to emit a supersonic signal, for example, in the range of 40 kilocycles, for remote control of the television receiver 12. The receiver 12 includes on its front panel a microphone 14 which is connected to suitable amplifier, detector and relay circuits (not shown) for electrical operation of a control motor or other control performing means. For example, the receiver 12 may include a motor for driving a tuner of the J) receiver thus permitting remote station selection. Ob viously, other control functions may be performed and the control arrangement shown is merely by way of example.

I Signal generator construction FIGS 2-5 show various vie'ws of theinternal construc-' tion of the transmitteror signal generator 10. The device includes an upper housing portion 16 and a-lower housing portion 17 with a protective screen 20 enclosing'theopen end of the device. Sound waves are emitted through the screen 20 and these are generated by means of longitudinal is clamped by means of suitable friction nuts 32 (FIG.

2) engaging studs 27.

The lower housing portion 17 is held in place by means of threaded fasteners35 which are secured to the rear bracket 37 and the forward bracket 39. Brackets 37 and 39 are also retained; by pairs of the studs 27 and the associated friction nuts 32.

Bracket 39 includes an aperture 41 through'which, the rod 22 extends. The further 4 mounted on arm 76a so as to be in alignment with the end of rod 22. V

Bent rocker 7 0 also includes a tripping arm 70b which joins arm 70a at slightly more than a right angle.

An end mounted spring strip forms an actuator spring 80 which is used to provide the energy for operating the striker 75. Spring 80 is bent at somewhat more than a right angle and is mounted at one arm to the frame 25 by means of a rivet 82 (FIG. 3). The other arm of spring 80 supports a rounded nylon button 84.: Button 84 engages the arm 70a of rocker 70 atv a point slightly spaced'from the intersection of arms 70a and 70b and remote from end of arm-70a. A'coil spring 88 is compressed between the frame25 and the arm 70b to force rocker 70 back againstthe nylonb'utton 84, and spring end 60a will force arm 70b to' maintain some compression of'spring 88. Spring 88' is restrained from sliding movement along the frame 25 by means of an outward projection or pimple 90, However, spring 88 is slidable to a limited extent along the arm 7lb of rocker 70 during operation of the device as will be explained subsequently.

Signal generator operation As the signal generator is showninFIG. 1 it is in a position of rest .prior to actuation. The untensioned condition of spring 80 is such that spring end 60a merely pivots" the rocker 70 in' a-counter clockwise. direction against the button 84 without substantially tensioning spring. 80. This has'the: purpose of placing striker 75 against the end of rod 22. The coil spring 88 is relatively weak and spring 80 isrelatively strong so spring 88 will be slightly'compressed. In this'condition rocker 70 may tion's extending across the aperture; 44 in order toe'ngage an annular groove 2211 at the center of rod '22. In this way, rod 22 is suspended at its center, or a nodal point for its vibration, so that there is minimum damping of its resonant vibrations whenit is energized.

A manually operable actuatinglever .54. 'projects out wardly of thehousing portion 16 so that it may be con- 'be. positioned so the pivotal. mounting pin 68 is intermediate the slots 71a and 72a,as illustrated.

As shown in FIG. 6, upon-suflicient'counter clockwise I manual. operation of the actuating lever- 54, the projection veniently depressed to operate the striker-mechanism two. depending sides25a and these forma channelshap'ed' frame portion for. pivotal mounting'of thestriker components; -An actuating lever mounting axle pin 57 is rotatablysupported in apertures of. the sides 25a at a position spaced .nom rod 22 and intermediate the ends thereof. Actuating lever 54 is rotatably mounted on pin 57 and a coil spring Gill-surrounds this pin; Spring 60 includes one free end captured inaperture 6,2 of bracket 42 (FIG. 5) anda second free end 60a engageable'with the bottom side of actuating lever54-to bias this in a clock- Wise direction. Spring end 60a also engages arm 7tlb to bias rocker 70 sothat striker 75 is engaged with the end of rod 22. Actuating lever 54 is restrained against. undue clockwise rotation becauseof the engagement of the bottom of the forward edge. thereof with the housing portion 16along the area 65 (FIG. 2

The rocker mounting axle pin-68 is supportedin aperturesof the sides 25a of frame '25 at a position spaced rearwardly of the rod 22 (FIG. 2). The lever or bent rocker 70 includes two outwardly turned ears 71' and 72.

(FIGS.-3 and '7) each having aligned slots 71,; and 7.2a

for rotatably and slidably mountingthe rocker 70 on pin" ries a soundfactivator hammer 'or striker 75. Striker .75 is 54a of actuating lever 54. is engageable with the top surface of the arm 7% to cause clockwise pivotalmovement of rocket--" against-the springSflto store energy in that spring. Spring :en'd 60a will disengage arm 7% but spring 60 will maintain a reaction force to pushbutton operation. It maybe noted that a'rm 70b is inclined upwardly toward projection 54a in order to reduce the stroke necessary in operating actuating lever 54. .The. bottom surface of projection 54a and the facing surface'of the arm 70b are both flat so that as these surfaces engage, the movement applied to the rocker. 70 is entirely counter clockwise and any radial force is away from the pin 68 to prevent any undesirable sliding movement of the rocker 70.

As the actuating lever 54 is pivoted counter clockwise beyond the position shown in FIG. 6, the projection 54a andthe' arm 70b become disengaged as their respective arcuate' paths 'of travel diverge, and the rocker is then released from its 'fully cockediposition. The condition shown in FIG. 7 illustrates the subsequent continued movement, or manually produced'overtravel, of the pushbutton wherein the bottomo'f its rear surfaces engages the surface 90 of upper housing portion 16 to act as a stop for the pushbutton. FIG. 7 also illustrates the condition wherein lhfiTOCkCT 70'has been driven by springfit) from the position shown in FIG. 6 to a position of overtravel of the rocker as it is illustrated in FIG. 2 such that the hammer 75 strikes the end of rod 22 a sharp percussive blow. In this way the energy stored in spring .80 is releasedthrough the momentum of hammer 75 to the rod 22 to cause this rod to longitudinally vibrate at its supersonicresonant frequency.

It is preferablethatthe hammer 75 make onlyja single contact with the rod 22' and'that the hammer be immediately withdrawn after initial 'contact to permit free vlbratlon' of therod 22. In its rebound after contact with the rod, hammer 75 causes the rocker to move against spring which absorbs some of the rebound energy. Spring 88 absorbs more of the energyas'the hammer may again move toward the rod. Accordingly, byproper tensioning of the springs 80 and 88 and by the proper spacing between the hammer 75 and rod 22 as shown in FIG. 2, it is possible to provide a single impact between the hammer and the rod.

Once the actuating lever 54 has been operated to cause cooking and release of the rocker it is necessary to release the manual pressure on the actuating lever (FIG. 1) to permit the spring 60 to return the mechanism to the condition shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 8 illustrates the operation of the striker mechanism as the rocker 70 slides in its mounting during the return portion of the operating cycle. The top surface of projection 54a and the bottom surface of the end of arm 70b are both rounded to reduce the frictional contact as the actuating lever 54 returns to its normal position. It may also be noted that the contact between projection 54a and arm 70b is made substantially along the axis of the slots 71a and 72a (which axis is substantially aligned with the pivot pin 57 for the actuating lever), and that the projection 54a is moving substantially at right angles to the axis of these slots. Accordingly, the rocker 70 is driven in a direction away from the striking surface of rod 22 to facilitate this reset movement.

Further considering FIG. 8, it may be noted that the button 84 is engageable with the arm 70a at a point between the position of hammer 75 and the pin 68. Since the spring 80 is relatively stiff and the button 84 has a rounded surface engaging the arm 70a, the button 84 forms a pivot point such that the rocker 70 pivots slightly counter clockwise about this button and the hammer 75 is forced into engagement with the end of rod 22. Since rod 22 is constructed to vibrate longitudinally at its resonant frequency, touching an end thereof has the effect of greatly damping and stopping the generation of a signal by this rod. As has been previously mentioned, this damping of the output signal of the generator apparatus is desirable in some control applications to prevent overshoot :of the apparatus which is controlled by the signal. Thus, it may be seen that by rapid release of the actuating lever 54 after it has once been operated, it is possible to immediately and fully damp the rod 22 in order to produce an overall output signal which is pulse-like, or of short duration. Obviously, as spring 60 forces actuating lever 54 further clockwise in FIG. 8, projection 54a and arm 70b disengage and spring end 60a engages arm 70b to maintain damping of the rod by hammer 75 as shown in FIG. 2.

Embodiments of FIGS. 9--]] enough to engage the underside of actuating lever 54 and bias this in a clockwise direction (FIG. A coil spring 180 is positioned on the mounting pin 68 and one end of this spring is extended and anchored in aperture 101 of frame 25. The other end 180:: of coil spring 180 is extended through an aperture 102 in the rocker arm 70b and this spring end is bent to engage the underside of actuating lever 54. A further tip of the spring end 180a is bent upwardly within the interior of the underside of actuating lever 54 (FIG. 10).

Prior to actuation and as shown in FIG. 10, the spring arm 180a, as it extends through aperture 102, tends to bias rocker 17 in a counter clockwise direction and against the coil spring 88 so that hammer 75 is engaged with the end of rod 22. As actuating lever 54 is depressed the projection 54a engages arm 70b to pivot the rocker in a clockwise direction against the action of spring 180. Upon sufiicient movement of the actuating lever 54 the projection 54a will disengage the arm 70b to permit the spring 180 to release its energy and drive the rocker 70 in a counter clockwise direction as illustrated in FIG. 11. The operation of the pushbutton and movement of the rocker for striking action is similar to that described previously in connection with FIGS. 2 and 6.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9-11, the operation differs over the previously described embodiment in the manner in which continued damping of the rod 22 is obtained. As shown in FIG. 11, when the actuating lever 54 travels sufiiciently to release the rocker 70, the spring arm 180a, extending through aperture 102, provides the necessary mechanical connection between the rocker and coil spring 180 to drive the striker into sharp engagement with the rod 22. At this time spring 88 is compressed and this spring then tends to force the rocker 70 in a counter clockwise direction and away from the dotted line position illustrated in FIG. 11. The aperture 102 is made large enough that with the actuating lever 54- depressed as shown in FIG. 11, and the spring arm 108a engageable with the bottom side of the pushbutton 54, the spring 88 will bias the rocker 70 in a counter clockwise direction after a single blow [of the hammer 75. That is, the size of aperture 102 permits a free return of the rocker 70 to the solid line position shown in FIG. 11 due to the action of spring 88. Accordingly, as projection 54:: disengages the arm 70b in the initial operation of actuating lever 54, the spring 180 is permitted to release its energy to the rocker 70, at which time the actuating lever 54 engages the spring arm 180a as the energy of spring 180 is imparted to provide clockwise movement of rocker 70. The movement of the rocker 70 is sufficient to permit overtravel and engagement of the striker with the rod 22, and upon rebound of the striker 75 from the end of the rod, the spring 88 limits the striker to one blow while the actuating lever 54 maintains the spring 180 out of operation by engagement with the spring arm 180a.

Upon return movement of the actuating lever 54 the operation is similar to that illustrated in FIG. 8. There is sliding movement of the rocker 70 to the left in its mounting, and pivotal action thereof about the arm 180a extending through the aperture 102 provides engagement of the striker 75 with the rod 22 for damping action. The slots in the ears of rocker 70 permit suflicient sliding of the rocker for clearance of the projection 54a, and the spring arm 180a will maintain the proper counter clockwise bias to the rocker 17 so that striker 75 will continuously contact the end of rod 22 as the pushbutton is being returned to the condition of rest illustrated in FIG. 10.

Embodiments of FIGS. 12-14 In FIGS. 12-14 there is shown a form of the signal generator (with the housing removed) which operates much like that shown in FIGS. 2-8 except that spring 88 has been omitted and a slight friction has been incorporated in the pivotal mounting of the rocker 70 to provide proper striking of the rod 22, and continuous damping of the rod upon release of the pushbutton. As shown in FIG. 12, coil springs 110 and 111 are installed in compressive relation respectively between the ear 72 and frame side 25a and the ear 71 and frame side 25a. Furthermore, the flat spring used to energize the rocker 70 and striker 75 is set so that it is not tensed, with the button 84 engaging arm 70a and the hammer 75 spaced from the end of rod 22 in a position of rest for the rocker arm 70 as shown in FIG. 14. In this instance the rocker 70 will be positioned so that pin 68 is engaged with the outward portion of the slots in the ears 71, '72 (as shown in FIG.

the projection 54a releases from arm 70b and the energy of the springSO is released to provide striking action ofthe" striker 75 against the end rod, 22.. Because of the great 7 striking action because of the action of-springs 110 and 111. As the actuating lever'54'is released from the position shown in FIG. 14, the rocker 70 will slide in the slot in the ears 71 and 72 and will pivot about the button 84 to bring the hammer into engagement with the endof the rod 22 as shown in FIG. 13. The rocker 70 will, of course, move slightly against spring 80 as the projection 54a clears the arm 7012 but the striker 75 wil1 remain against the end of the rod even after the disengagement of the pushbutton and the rocker as shown in FIG. 13. In this form of the signal generator thesprings 110 and 111 impart sufficient friction that the rocker 7 it may be in a stable or restposition as illustrated in either FIGS. 13 or 14. FIG. 14 shows the rest position of the rocker 70 and striker 75 after the striker has given the rod a single blow and before the pushbutton has returned to its normal position. FIG. 13 shows a stable or rest position of the rocker 70 and striker 75 after the pushbutton is returned to itsnormal position and the rocker has been'moved slightly in its slot mounting. I p

Accordingly, it may be seen that the signal generator apparatus of the present invention incorporates animproved striker mechanism requiring but few component parts of relatively non-critical construction it should be obvious that more than one striker mechanism and radiator rod-may be used to'perform several functions with signals of dilferent frequencies. In addition, the mechanism is constructed and operable in such away thatthe parts may have improved: useful operating life, butyet the overall apparatus can provide a strong, high energy output signal. Furthermore, without the need for additional component parts, the signal generator provides a controllable and fully eflective damping provision for reg ulating the duration of the output signal.

I claim: I p a 1. A supersonic signal generator including'in combination, a housing and support means, a sonic radiator mounted on said support means and having a strikingsurface adapted to be impinged for production of .a' supersonic .signal to be radiated externally of said housing, operating .means' mounted on said support means and manually movable between firsttand second positions, first spring means biasing said operating means to the first position thereof, a rocker lever having first and second end portions and a striker on said first end portion, meanspivotally 2. A manually operable sonic generator including in combination, supportmeans, sonic radiator means carried by said supporpmeans and" having a striking surface, rocker means pivotally and slidably mounted on said support means and having a striker portion aligned withsaid striking surface, actuating lever means pivotally carried by said support means and including a rigid actuator portion engageable' and disengageable with said rocker means for pivotally cocking and releasing said rocker means upon forward movement of said lever means, a flatspring secured to said support means for urging said striker portion into striking engagement with said striking surface upon release of said rocker means, said actuator portion and said rocker means having rounded portions to provide sliding movementof saidrocker means away from said lever means upon return movement thereof and re-engagemeansv having first and second arm portions. extending therefrom and striker rneans disposed on said first arm portion, mounting means intermediate saidarm portions forpivotally supporting said rockermeans onsaid support means, said mounting means including an elongated opening substantially in alignment with the pivotal mounting of said levermeans to permit slidable motion of said second arm portion toward and away'from said lever means,- relatively strong spring means engageable with saidrocker means and pivotally urging said second. arm portion toward said actuator portion and pivotally urging said striker means toward said striking surface, relatively weak spring means to urge said first arm portion away from said striking surface, further spring means for biasing said actuating lever means to a positionsuch that said actuatorportion and said second arm portion are disengaged, said actuator portion and said second arm portion having respective mating surfaces'to provide frictional engagement therebetween and pivotal movement of said rocker means for cocking the same against said strong spring means and release of said rocker means for strikingaction upon operation of saidlever means against and slidably mounting said rocker lever intermediate the ends thereof sov that said rocker lever is pivotal to permit said striker to impinge said striking surface and so that said rocker lever is slidable with respect to said operating means, the second end portion of said rocker lever being disposed to be engaged and disengaged by said operating means moving between said first and second positions for cocking and release of said rocker lever, second spring means engageable with said rocker lever for slidably urging said rocker lever toward said operating means and'for pivotally urging said striker toward said striking surface upon. disengagement of, said operating means and ,said

.rocker lever for energizing said radiator by saidstrike'r,

and third spring means pivotally urging said rocker lever to a position spacingsaid striker from said striking surface with said operating means in second position and disen-' said rocker lever away from said operating means to per I operating means by said first mit repositioning of said spring means.

said further spring means, said weak spring limiting the striking action to a sharp blow, said actuator portion and said second arm portion having engageable rounded surfaces, for shifting said: rocker means in said elongated opening upon pivotal movement of said lever means by said further-spring means, and said strong spring means having means forming a pivot point for said, first arm portion uponshift of said rocker means to pivot said striker means into engagement with said striking surface to damp the signal of said radiator means.

4, A manually operable sonic generator including in combination, support means, sonic radiator means carried. by said support means and having a striking surface,

rocker .means pivotally and slidably mounted on said j support means and'having a striker portion aligned with said striker surface, actuating lever means pivotally carried by said support means and including a rigid actuator portion engageableand disengageable with said rocker means for pivotally cocking and releasing said rocker means upon forward movement of said lever means, spring means engageable with said striker portion to urge the .same into strikingengagementwith said striker surface upon release of said rocker means, means including second spring means holding said rocker means spaced from sa1d radiator meansand against said first spring means with sa1d lever means and rocker means released,

said actuator portion and said rocker means re-engaging upon return movement of said lever means and having rounded portions to provide sliding movement of said rocker means away from said lever means, and said spring means engaging said rocker means for pivoting action of said striker portion into engagement With said striking surface upon such sliding movement of said rocker means.

5. A manually operable sonic generator including in combination support means, sonic radiator means carried by said support means and having a striking surface, rocker means pivotally and slidably mounted on said support means and having a striker portion aligned with said striking surface, an actuating lever pivotally carried by said support means and including actuator portion rigid with respect to said lever and engageable and disengageable with said rocker means for pivotally cocking and releasing said rocker means upon forward movement of said actuating lever means, a first spring for biasing said actuating lever against forward movement thereof, a. second spring for biasing said rocker means toward said actuator portion whereby said second spring may urge said striker portion into striking engagement with said striking surface upon release of said rocker means, means for limiting said striking engagement to a single impact with said lever released from said rocker means, said actuator portion and said rocker means re-engaging upon release of said lever to cause sliding movement of said rocker means and resetting of said generator, one of said springs including an extension engageable with said rocker means for maintaining said striker portion engaged with said striking surface in an unoperated condition of said actuating lever means.

6. A manually operable sonic generator including in combination support means, radiator means carried by said support means and having a striking surface, rocker means pivotally and slidably mounted on said support means and having a striker portion aligned with said striker surface, actuating lever means pivotally carried by said support means and including a rigid actuator portion engageable and disengageable with said rocker means for pivotally cocking and releasing said rocker means upon forward movement of said actuating lever, and spring means urging said striker portion into striking engagement with said striker surface upon release of said rocker means and providing a spaced relationshipbetween said striker portion and said striking surface after such striking engagement with said lever means and rocker means released, said actuator portion and said rocker means having rounded portions to provide sliding movement of said rocker means away from said lever means upon return movement thereof, said spring means urging said striker portion into engagement with said striking surface upon sliding movement of said rocker means, and means for maintaining said striker portion engaged with said striking surface with said lever meansin return position.

7. A manually operable sonic generator, including in combination, support means, an elongated sonic radiator carried by said support means and having a striking surface, rocker means pivotably and slidably mounted on said support means spaced outwardly from said striking surface and having a striker portion aligned with said striking surface, said rocker means further having an arm portion extending along and spaced from a side of said elongated radiator, a manually operable lever pivotally carried by said support means in a position spaced from the side of said elongated radiator and including an integral rigid actuator portion engageable and disengageable with said arm portion of said rocker means for pivotally cocking and releasing said rocker means upon forward movement of said lever, spring means urging said striker portion into engagement with said striking surface upon release of said rocker means, means for limiting said engagement of said striker portion and said striking surface to a single impact with said lever and said rocker means released, said actuator portion and said arm portion re-engaging upon return movement of said lever to cause sliding movement of said rocker means away from said lever, and means engaging said rocker means for pivoting of said striker portion into engagement with said striking surface upon such sliding movement of said rocker means for damping vibration of said sonic radiator.

3. A manually operable sonic generator, including in combination, a sonic radiator to be struck for excitation thereof, movable striker means having a portion movable away from and against said radiator, a first spring urging said striker portion toward said radiator, a second spring for urging said striker portion away from said radiator, spring biased, manually operable means engageable with said striker means to move the same against said first spring and release said striker means so that said first spring drives said striker portion into impact with said radiator and so that energy is stored in said second spring, said second spring limiting engagement of said striker portion and said radiator to a single blow, and means engaging said striker means to overcome said second spring and retain said striker means in contact with said radiator with said manually operable means in rest position.

9. A manually operable sonic generator, including in combination, a sonic radiator to be struck for excitation thereof, pivotally mounted rocker means having a striker movable away from and against said radiator, a spring biased actuating lever manually pivotable between first and second positions and spring biased to first position, striker energizing means including a first spring for driving said striker against said radiator and means coupling said lever to said rocker means so that pivotal movement of said lever from said first position to said second position stores energy in said first spring and causes release of the same to drive said striker against said radiator, means for limiting the impingement of said striker against said radiator to a single impact including a compression spring engaging said rocker means and in which energy is stored upon drive of said rocker means by said first spring to be released upon rebound of said striker from said radiator, said striker energizing means providing recocking of said actuating lever through spring biased movement thereof from said second position to said first position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,410,638 3/22 Aronson 4610 2,920,604 1/60 McDonald 116-13'7 3,028,832 4/62 Lazzery l16137 LOUIS J. CAPOZI, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SUPERSONIC SIGNAL GENERATOR INCLUDING IN COMBINATION, A HOUSING AND SUPPORT MEANS, A SONIC RADIATOR MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND HAVING A STRIKING SURFACE ADAPTED TO BE IMPINGED FOR PRODUCTION OF A SUPERSONIC SIGNAL TO BE RADIATED EXTERNALLY OF SAID HOUSING, OPERATING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND MANUALLY MOVABLE BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS, FIRST SPRING MEANS BIASING SAID OPERATING MEANS TO THE FIRST POSITION THEREOF, A ROCKER LEVER HAVING FIRST AND SECOND END PORTIONS AND A STRIKER ON SAID FIRST END PORTION, MEANS PIVOTALLY AN SLIDABLY MOUNTING SAID ROCKER LEVER INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF SO THAT SAID ROCKER LEVER IS PIVOTAL TO PERMIT SAID STRIKER TO IMPINGE SAID STRIKING SURFACE AND SO THAT SAID ROCKER LEVER IS SLIDABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID OPERATING MEANS, THE SECOND END PORTION OF SAID ROCKER LEVER BEING DISPOSED TO BE ENGAGED AND DISENGAGED BY SAID OPERATING MEANS MOVING BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS FOR COCKING AND RELEASE OF SAID ROCKER LEVER, SECOND SPRING MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID ROCKER LEVER FOR SLIDABLY URGING SAID ROCKER LEVER TOWARD SAID OPERATING MEANS AND FOR PIVOTALLY URGING SAID STRIKER TOWARD SAID STRIKING SURFACE UPON DISENGAGEMENT OF SAID OPERATING MEANS AND SAID ROCKER LEVER FOR ENERGIZING SAID RADIATOR BY SAID STRIKER, AND THIRD SPRING MEANS PIVOTALLY URGING SAID ROCKER LEVER TO A POSITION SPACING SAID STRIKER FROM SAID STRIKING SURFACE WITH SAID OPERATING MEANS IN SECOND POSITION AND DISENGAGED FROM SAID ROCKER LEVER, SAID OPERATING MEANS AND SAID SECOND END OF SAID ROCKER LEVER EACH HAVING RIGID ENGAGEABLE PORTIONS WITH ROUNDED SURFACES ENGAGEABLE UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID OPERATING MEANS FROM SAID SECOND POSITION TO SAID FIRST POSITION TO CAUSE SLIDABLE MOVEMENT OF SAID ROCKER LEVER AWAY FROM SAID OPERATING MEANS TO PERMIT REPOSITIONING OF SAID OPERATING MEANS BY SAID FIRST SPRING MEANS. 